ANZAC DAY KIT 2016 Research Paper Series 2015-16
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ANZAC DAY KIT 2016 Research Paper Series 2015-16 ISSN 2203-5249 David Watt—Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Updated 15 April 2016 Australian army soldier slouch hat with Anzac Rising Sun badge. Copyright: Milleflore Images / Shutterstock.com Front cover: Silhouette of Australian Anzac soldiers. Shutterstock Image ID: 385183303, Copyright: Keith Tarrier 2 Contents Red poppies decorating the Australian War Memorial. Copyright: Drop of Light / Shutterstock.com Introduction 6 What is this kit? 6 Recent Anzac Day speeches 7 Section 1 | Speeches 7 90th anniversary of the Anzac landings—25 April 2005 8 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 8 Ataturk’s words of comfort 8 Section 2 | The relevance of Anzac 9 Anzac—legal protection 9 The history of Anzac Day 9 Is it Anzac Day or ANZAC Day? 10 Traditions and rituals of Anzac Day 11 The dawn service 11 History of the ‘gunfire breakfast’, held after the dawn service on Anzac Day 11 Anzac Day march 12 Follow-on and Two-up 12 Wearing medals 14 Wearing rosemary 14 Laying a wreath or flowers 14 The Ode 14 The Ode 14 The Last Post 15 The Anzac Biscuit 15 The meaning of Anzac 15 Poetry 18 Section 3 | Gallipoli 19 Gallipoli: what happened on 25 April 1915? 19 The plan 19 The wrong beach? 23 A long and terrible day 23 Chronology of significant events during the remainder of the year 25 Gallipoli: frequently asked questions 27 Why did the Anzacs land at Gallipoli? 27 Who was first ashore? 27 How many Australians died on the first day? 27 When did the Gallipoli campaign end? 27 3 What other nationalities were at Gallipoli? 28 Where else at Gallipoli did the Anzacs serve? 28 Were the British really ‘drinking tea’? 28 Why wasn’t Simpson decorated? 29 How many Australians died at Gallipoli? 29 The campaign 31 First-hand accounts of the Gallipoli Campaign 31 Gallipoli—legend versus reality 32 Gallipoli—military resources 33 Gallipoli—biographies 33 Gallipoli—geography, then and now 34 Section 4 | The Western Front 35 The AIF on the Western Front 35 1916 36 Battles 36 Fromelles 36 Pozieres 38 Mouquet Farm 39 1917 39 Battles 40 Bullecourt 40 Passchendaele (Third Ypres) 40 1918 41 Battles 42 Villers-Bretonneux 42 Hamel 42 Amiens—the Third Battle of the Somme 43 Mont St Quentin 44 Hindenburg Line 44 Indigenous AIF personnel during the First World War 45 People 46 Section 5 | Remembering and honouring memorials and heritage 47 Centenary of Anzac 47 Ballot 48 Links to sites with details of commemorative ceremonies 49 Remembrance Day 49 4 The Simpson Prize 49 War memorials and cemeteries overseas 49 War memorials in Australia 51 Gallipoli websites 52 Western Front 52 Remains of war dead 52 Section 6 | Anniversaries 53 1916 Anzac Day commemorations 54 AIF personnel serving in Egypt 54 AIF personnel serving on the Western Front 55 Newspaper articles describing the 1916 anniversary of the Anzac landings 55 New South Wales 55 Victoria 56 Queensland 56 South Australia 56 Western Australia 56 Tasmania 56 Section 7 | Australian peacekeeping 57 Australian peacekeeping honour roll 59 Section 8 | Statistics, links and further reading 61 Australia’s wars and warlike operations 61 Statistical information 63 Useful links for further information on Australia’s military history 63 Roll of Honour 64 Conflict 64 Number of deaths 64 Books on the First World War held in the Parliamentary Library 66 David Watt Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Section This ‘Anzac Day Kit’ has been compiled over a number of years by various staff members of the Parliamentary Library, and is updated annually. In particular the Library would like to acknowledge the work of John Moremon and Laura Rayner, both of whom contributed significantly to the original text and structure of the Kit. Nathan Church contributed significantly to the 2016 edition of this publication. 5 Introduction What is this kit? On 25 April, the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915, Australians This kit is produced to assist Members and Senators with their and New Zealanders honour the men and women who have served and representational and ceremonial duties on Anzac Day. It can be died in wars, peacekeeping and other defence operations. It is now 101 accessed by members of the public, but for copyright reasons many years since the landing, and 100 years since Anzac Day was observed linked items are available to Members of Parliament only. for the first time in 1916. The kit comprises eight sections: The date of 25 April was etched into the national consciousness with the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli. The » Section 1: Speeches Anzacs forged a tradition of service and sacrifice that has continued to » Section 2: The relevance of ANZAC this day. We remember that more than 1.5 million Australians have served their country in wartime, and more than 100,000 have lost their lives. » Section 3: Gallipoli » Section 4: The Western Front Anzac Day is our national day of commemoration to remember veterans » Section 5: Remembering and honouring: memorials and heritage and those Australians who have died in war, and show support for » Section 6: Anniversaries serving members of the Australian Defence Force. Later in the year on 11 November—Remembrance Day—we pause for a second time, sharing » Section 7: Australian peacekeeping with other countries the tradition of observing the anniversary of the Great » Section 8: Statistics, links and further reading War’s armistice to remember the dead of all wars. For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament. 6 Anzac Day speech in Queensland, Australia. Copyright: GTS Productions / Shutterstock.com Section 1 | Speeches ‘Possible speech notes: the significance of ANZAC‘, prepared by the 25 April 2015—Speech at the 2015 Dawn Service, Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Section, Parliamentary Library, by the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. April 2008 (reviewed and updated in April 2010—Senators and Members only). 25 April 2015—remarks at the Australian Memorial Service: speech, Lone Pine, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Michael Ronaldson. Recent Anzac Day speeches 25 April 2015—Dawn Service address 25 April 2015, Australian War 25 April 2015—Anzac Day 2015 address, Pukeahu National War Memorial, Canberra, Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison. Memorial, Wellington, New Zealand, by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. 25 April 2015—Anzac Day National Ceremony—commemorative address, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. 7 90th anniversary of the Anzac landings—25 April 2005 In ‘The unknown Australian soldier’, Ashley Ekins discusses the symbolic significance of the return of the remains of an unknown Australian soldier Message for Anzac Day and address at the Anzac Day Dawn Service, (Wartime, no. 25, January 2004, pp. 11–13). Gallipoli, by the Prime Minister John Howard. Message from the Governor-General. Ataturk’s words of comfort In 1934 the Turkish President and Gallipoli veteran, Kemal Ataturk, wrote Address delivered by the Anglican Bishop to the Defence Force, Anzac a tribute to the Anzacs killed at Gallipoli: Day Dawn Service, Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Speech by the New Zealand High Commissioner, Kate Lackey, at the Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are Australian War Memorial, Canberra. now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us. Where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours ... Tomb of the Unknown Soldier You mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away 11 November 1993—transcript of the speech made by the Prime the tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace Minister, Paul Keating, at the tomb of the unknown soldier on after having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons the occasion of the Funeral of the Unknown Australian Soldier, as well. Remembrance Day. This inscription appears on the Kemal Ataturk Memorial, Anzac Parade, Canberra.It has been suggested recently that, notwithstanding their noble sentiment, there is insufficient evidence to ascribe the words to Ataturk. At present, this is a topic requiring further research and cannot be regarded as settled. Figure 1: Australian Anzac soldier. Shutterstock Image ID: 385498717, Copyright: Keith Tarrier 8 Wreaths at Anzac cove memorial. Shutterstock Image ID: 172912715, Copyright: Sufi Section 2 | The relevance of Anzac Anzac—legal protection The history of Anzac Day The use of the word Anzac is restricted and protected by legislation. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 gave us the date and name of Anzac Day. News of the landing saw outpourings of national pride, and it became clear that its » text of the Anzac Day Act 1995 (Act No. 21 of 1995). anniversary was the appropriate day for commemoration. » Information on and text of the Protection of the word ‘Anzac’ Regulations. The first day to be called Anzac Day was 13 October 1915 and occurred in Adelaide as a replacement for the Eight-Hour Day holiday (a forerunner » 4 February 2004—media release from Danna Vale, Minister for of Labour Day and already a public holiday). This event was more of a Veterans’ Affairs—‘Protecting the unique meaning of Anzac‘. patriotic carnival designed to raise awareness of, and funds for, the war effort than the solemn commemoration it was to become. 9 Anzac Day as we know it was first observed on 25 April 1916, as people a day for Australians to honour their war dead and veterans, and show came together to honour those lost at Gallipoli.